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Banner Artemide LVII
Lot # 413
Q. Pompeius Rufus. AR Denarius, Rome mint, 54 BC. Obv. Head of Sulla right; on the right, SVLLA·COS. Rev. Head of Quintus Pompeius Rufus right; on the left, RVFVS·COS; on the right, Q·POM·RVFI. Cr. 434/1; B. 48 (Cornelia), 4 (Pompeia). AR. 3.84 g. 18.50 mm. RR. Very rare. Impressive portraits. Obverse slightly off centre, minor oxidation spot beside edge and crescent-shaped banker's mark on reverse. Good VF. This coin issue bears the only portrait of the dictator Sulla. The moneyer was the grandson of Sulla and his home would likely have had portraits of their famous ancestor. Thus, although posthumously struck, the portrait on these coins is probably an accurate representation. (Triton VI, 2003, 744 note).
The concave appearance of the side with Sulla’s portrait suggests it is the coin’s reverse and that with Rufus’ portrait the obverse. (See Triton IX, 2006, 1309 note).